Article May 13, 1905 Issue

When Practice is Preaching

Watertown (Mass.) Tribune-Enterprise

The very best sermon that any one of us can preach, is to practise in our daily walks before men the virtues which we declare should animate all men. In these days proofs are demanded instead of profession, and the only man that succeeds is the one who can demonstrate the views he presents to others.

Of what benefit to the world is it for one to join Don't Worry clubs, to talk cheerfulness and to preach the gospel of the denial of the power of discouragement to pull one down, if, at the same time, the one who does these things shows plainly that he is still worrying, wears a look on his face that chills and practically denies that there is any cheerfulness, and talks about the things he has to combat, "his luck," etc.?

You cannot impress upon the world that worry is needless and harmful, that cheerfulness is possible under all circumstances, and that discouragement can be downed and made to give place to happiness, unless you openly practise what you have preached upon the subject. When you do this the world believes you are honest, and so believing, commences to investigate, to finally arrive at the point of admitting the correctness of your conclusion. But you must live what you preach, else nobody will take any stock in what you profess. The demand of this day is for practice and not preaching, or rather, the demand is for that preaching which is practice and that practice which is preaching.— Watertown (Mass.) Tribune-Enterprise.

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